Notes and Resources from the Lifesling Class April 12 & 14, 2023

Instruction handout from 2018 CYC Lifesling Training Clinic: CYC Lifesling Training Handout

Margaret Pommert's Safe Boating Website: Safety (seattleonthewater.com)

 

Lifesling video from The Sailing Foundation: Lifesling Instruction Video

Seattle based The Sailing Foundation website.

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Safety gear on board a boat:
US Sailing Safety Equipment Requirements for coastal racing:

• Monohull-SER-Coastal (ussailing.org) or US Safety Equipment Requirements (SER) - US Sailing

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB’s):
Margaret thinks PLB’s (personal locator beacons) with AIS are more important in PNW waters than GPS (satellite transponder) since AIS can alert other boaters in the area more quickly:

• ACR ResQLink 450 AIS / PLB with RLS (landfallnavigation.com) combines AIS and satellite transponders.
  
• Best personal locator beacons and AIS units - Yachting World (Feb 14, 2023)

To make winching in an emergency easier:

• Winch-rite WinchRite® ABT Cordless Winch Handle (sailrite.com)
• Winch adapter for Power drill https://a.co/d/32CltbG (Amazon)

Lume-on water activated pfd-bladder lights:

• Lume-On Lights Up Life Jacket Bladders (practical-sailor.com)

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Best practices:

• When falling over board, pull rip cord on life vest (pfd), in case it doesn’t inflate through water contact.
  
  
• Use pfd with crotch strap and have a storm whistle on your pfd.
  
  
• YPTSC –Yell (MOB/COB)-Point (to person)-Throw (flotation device)-Set (MOB button on GPS Chartplotter)-Call (VHF Channel 16).
  
  
• DSC Button (Digital Selective Call) on radio: hold for 5 seconds, but most importantly, register and program your DSC capable radio with your MMSI number: Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) | BoatUS
  
  
• Crew needs to know where Block and Tackle is (and use it right side up).
  
  
• Release preventer lines and auto pilot before starting lifesling maneuver (and teach your crew how to do that).
  
  
• Before turning on the engine, check for lines in the water.
  
  
• Hoist MOB/COB from outside the lifelines.